Barack Obama's Twitter account attracts 1.46 million followers

Washington, May 19: In less than 12 hours after he officially entered 'Twittersphere', US President Barack Obama's account has attracted 1.46 million followers.

The President of the United States Barack Obama -- or @POTUS -- account will allow Obama to communicate directly for the first time. He follows 65 people, surprisingly none of them are foreign leaders.

"Hello, Twitter! It's Barack. Really! Six years in, they're finally giving me my own account," was Obama's first message on the micro blogging site yesterday

His third tweet, which was in response to a tweet by former US President Bill Clinton attracted quite a bit of attention. "Welcome to @Twitter, @POTUS! One question: Does that username stay with the office? #askingforafriend," the former US President asked.

So far Obama follows 65 accounts on twitter, which mostly involves members of his Cabinet, key White House officials, important departments and some of the popular sports teams from Chicago - his home town.

The @POTUS Twitter account will serve as a new way for President Obama to engage directly with the American people, with tweets coming exclusively from him, the White House said.

"Obama is committed to making his Administration the most open and participatory in history and @POTUS will give Americans a new venue to engage on the issues that matter most to them," it said.